RANKED: 'To Tell The Truth' best incarnations of the game show

4. 1990 - 1991 (Hosts: Gordon Elliot, Lynn Swann, Alex Trebek)

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. In the span of one year and one season, three different people hosted To Tell The Truth. First, there was British/Australian television personality Gordon Elliot.

Then there was former football player and Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Lynn Swann.

Finally, there was Jeopardy! host and game show legend, Alex Trebek.

So what was the downfall of this incarnation of To Tell The Truth? You guessed it ... too many hosts! Gordon Elliot, who went on to become the executive producer and announcer of ABC's The Chew, hosted the show for only eight weeks. Lynn Swann, who appeared as a panelist on the Richard Kline pilot and during Gordon Elliot's run, had to leave after several weeks as host because of his football commentating conflicts. Finally, Alex Trebek, who was also hosting both Jeopardy! and Classic Concentration at the same time, was brought in as the reserve until the show got canceled.

The format was based on the 1980 run, and included two main games and the playing of "One on One." However, this time, "One on One" worked a bit differently. A member of the studio audience had the chance to win $500. One challenger was introduced and shared two stories, one of which was a true story about themselves. Each of the four panelists, in turn, asked one question to the challenger about the first story, and then, each got to ask one question relating to the second story. After all the questioning, the audience member chose which story they thought was truthful about the challenger. If correct, they win the $500. If incorrect, the challenger wins $1,000.

This version of "One on One" was much better structured than the 1980-1981 version. The main game element of the panelists collectively gathering information was used, and was beneficial to the audience member, even if they didn't win. However, despite the gameplay structure being better, it didn't make sense that the audience member won $500 if they picked the correct story but the challenger received double that amount, $1,000 if the wrong story was picked. The money amounts should have been equal.

Speaking of money amounts, this was now the '90s, and the most an individual challenger could win in the main game was $1,000. If the group of challengers stumped the panel, they would split $3,000. That is so cheap! It's not as bad as potentially splitting $50 three ways like on the 1969 to 1978 version, but come on, $3,000 to split. Why couldn't each contestant receive $3,000 if they stumped the panel? Not only is it a better chunk of change, but the challengers would earn it because they, essentially, beat the game.

The one thing the show really had going for them though was the inclusion of original To Tell The Truth panelists. Legendary panelist Kitty Carlisle, who appeared very frequently on the 1956 to 1968 incarnation, as well as the 1969 to 1978 version, once again graced the stage to cross-examine contestants. In addition, comedian Orson Bean, who also appeared many times on the original To Tell The Truth, was a guest often on the 90s version. Carlisle's return to the show definitely gave this incarnation some bonus points.

Too many hosts, and too little money. The 1990 to 1991 incarnation of To Tell The Truth wasn't the worst, but it places in the middle of the pack when compared to the others.